Hair brush

ABSTRACT

The hair brush includes an elongated member having a handle segment and a bristle substrate segment. The bristle substrate defines a cylindrical core having a smoothly curved, concave central region and radially larger end regions. A plurality of bristles are attached over the bristle substrate. The bristles have varying lengths such that the outer peripheral portions of the plurality of bristles define a planar surface, an arcuate segment of cylinder, or a complete cylinder. The bristles are in a predetermined pattern, on the surface of the substrate in a series or in groups of small bundles disposed on the substrate in a series. Each series is axially spaced apart in a common radial plane. A rectangular bristle substrate is also disclosed. The outer periphery of the bristles form either an arcuate segment of a cylindrical shape or a planar surface.

[0001] This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/731,191filed on Dec. 6, 2000, now pending and a continuation-in-part of patentapplication Ser. No. 09/451,747 filed on Nov. 30, 1999, now pending. Thepresent invention relates to a hair brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional hair brushes include an elongated member typicallyincluding a handle segment and a bristle segment. Commonly, the bristlesegment is a solid, cylindrical shape having a constant diameterthroughout its axial length.

[0003] There is a need in the marketplace for an anatomically correcthair brush and for a volume-creating hair brush.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hair brush.

[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a hairbrush suitable to groom humans as well as to groom animals.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a hairbrush that has an hourglass shape about its bristle substrate.

[0007] It a further object of the present invention to utilize bristleshaving a substantially equivalent length such that hourglass shape ofthe substrate is projected radially outward to the outer peripheraledges of the bristles.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hairbrush which requires less force to pass throughthe subject's hair.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hair brush which presents less bristle material inthe central mid-region of the brush thereby reducing the force needed tobrush a subject's hair and enhancing the heating and blow drying of thatsubject's hair.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide abrush with a concave substrate, forming a concave shape bristle edges,on a generally rectangular bristle substrate.

[0011] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hair brush which enables the user to roll-up morehair on the brush due to the hourglass shape of the bristle substrate.

[0012] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hair brush wherein the hourglass shape enables atighter hold on hair wrapped about the hourglass shape bristle system.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide ananatomically correct hairbrush which, when utilized, creates hair styleswith more volume.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a hairbrush that has an hourglass shape about its bristle substrate, and thatutilizes bristles having lengths such that the outer peripheral edges ofthe bristles form either a cylinder, an arcuate segment of a cylinder,or a planar surface, and thereby provide a hair brush which, whenutilized, creates hair styles with more volume.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hairbrush with a concave, generally rectangular, bristle substrate, and thatutilizes bristles having lengths such that the outer peripheral edges ofthe bristles form an arcuate segment of a cylinder-shape or a planarsurface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The hair brush includes an elongated member having a handlesegment and a bristle substrate segment. The bristle substrate defines acylindrical core having a smoothly curved, concave central region andradially larger end regions. A plurality of bristles are attached overthe bristle substrate. The bristles have varying lengths such that theouter peripheral portions of the plurality of bristles define a planarsurface, an arcuate segment of cylinder, or a complete cylinder. Thebristles are distributed throughout the bristle substrate in apredetermined pattern. The bristles are disposed over the peripheralsurface of the bristle substrate in one of two manners. In oneembodiment the bristles are individually disposed on the bristlesubstrate in a series. In another embodiment, the bristles are segmentedinto groups of small bundles and these bundles are disposed on thebristle substrate in a series. In both embodiments, each series ofindividual bristles or bristle bundles are axially spaced apart in acommon radial plane passing through the axial center line of the brush.A rectangular bristle substrate is also disclosed. The outer peripheralportions of the plurality of bristles for the rectangular substrateembodiment form either an arcuate segment of a cylindrical shape or aplanar surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can befound in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the hairbrush;

[0019]FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of the hair brush;

[0020]FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the hair brush particularlythe hourglass shape or smoothly curved concave central portion of thebristle segment substrate;

[0021]FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a rectangularbristle substrate with a concave central region;

[0022]FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the brush of FIGS. 4 and 7;

[0023]FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of the hair brushwith bristle ends terminating in a cylindrical shape;

[0024]FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a hair brushwith a rectangular bristle substrate with a concave central region andwith bristle ends terminating in a defined shape; and

[0025]FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates an end view of the brush.

[0026]FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a partial end view of thebrush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention relates to a hair brush. It should beunderstood that the hairbrush described herein is suitable for use onhumans, pets and other animals with hair such as horses.

[0028]FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of hairbrush 12.FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of the hair brush andFIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a schematic of the hair brushparticularly showing the hourglass shape of bristle substrate segment14. The figures are discussed concurrently herein. Similar referencenumbers are utilized in all the figures. Brush 12 includes handlesegment 13 and bristle substrate segment 14. As best shown in FIG. 3,bristle substrate 14 has a generally cylindrical core segment with asmoothly curved concave central region 16 and radially larger endregions 18, 20. Bristle substrate 14 carries a plurality of bristles 25on its peripheral surface.

[0029] The plurality of bristles 25 are grouped together in smallbundles, one of which is identified as bristle bundle 27 in FIG. 1. Asub-plurality of bundles are axially aligned in a row such as row 29shown in FIG. 1. Bristle row 29 is linear such that all bundles in therow of bristles are disposed in a common radial plane extending throughthe axial centerline of the core. See bristle row 31 in FIGS. 2 and 6.Alternatively, the bristles are individually disposed on the bristlesubstrate 14 (e.g. FIG. 9). Further, the bristle rows arecircumferentially distributed about the peripheral surface of bristlesubstrate 14. This circumferential or angular offset between adjacentradial rows of bristles reduces the force necessary to pass the brushthrough the subject's hair, enables faster drying of the hair with ablow dryer and requires less heat to blow-dry the hair. Further, thehourglass shape of concave central region 16 (FIG. 3) enables fasterblow drying time, less heat and less effort to brush the subject's hair.The brush also gives the hair style more volume. The angular offsetbetween radial rows also enhances massaging of the scalp during abrushing session.

[0030] Hair brush 12 is anatomically configured such that the hourglassshape of curved concave central region 16 (FIG. 3) generally matchescurves on the subject's head.

[0031] Handle segment 13 has a continuously curved convex region 40 andradially smaller end regions 42, 44.

[0032] In FIGS. 1 through 4, the bristles have substantially equivalentlengths 46 (see FIG. 3) such that the outer periphery of a row ofbristles defines a smooth curved concave shape about central region 50that is complementary the hourglass shape 16 of bristle substrate 14.

[0033] In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the bristles have varying, predeterminedlengths such that the outer periphery of a row of bristles defines asubstantially straight line (see FIGS. 6 and 7, region 72, and FIG. 8,region 82). In FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 the outer periphery or the terminalends of all the bristles define a cylinder (FIG. 6) or a predeterminedarcuate segment of a cylinder (FIGS. 7 and 9) or a plane (FIG. 8). InFIG. 6, hair brush 12 has rows of bristles (e.g. row 31)circumferentially disposed about bristle substrate 14 and the length 1of the bristle varies over the longitudinal span of substrate 14 suchthat the outer periphery or the terminal ends 91 of the bristles definea cylinder. Bristles in the deeper section of concave shape 14 arelonger than bristles at the ends of bristle row 31. In FIG. 8, hairbrush 12 has rows of bristles disposed about bristle substrate 14 suchthat the outer periphery or terminal ends of the bristles define aplanar surface (see region 82). In FIG. 6, bristles 25 are ofpredetermined varying lengths such that bristles at concave centralregion 74 are longer than bristles at regions 18, 20. Because thebristles at concave central region 74 are longer, those bristlespenetrate further into the subject's hair, permitting a hair dresser tocreate hair styles with more volume.

[0034]FIGS. 4 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate hairbrush 12 with anelongated, generally rectangular member 43. A cross-sectional aspect ofmember 43, from the perspective of section line 80′-80,″ is generallyrectangular in shape. Handle 78 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. In FIGS. 4and 7, handle 78 is shown with handle surface 77 substantially,longitudinally aligned with bristle substrate end regions 18 and 20. Thegenerally rectangular cross-sectional shape of member 43 is carriedforward to core segment 70 which is part of the bristle substratesegment. FIGS. 5 and 8 show the end as a rectangular shape. FIG. 5diagrammatically illustrates an axial perspective of the outer peripheryof the rows of bristles defining an arcuate segment of a cylinder. FIG.8 diagrammatically illustrates an axial perspective of the brush whereinthe outer periphery or the terminal ends of bristles in the bristle rowdefine a planar surface 82. FIGS. 5 and 8 show the angular offsetbetween the rows of bristles.

[0035] In FIGS. 4 and 7, brush 12 includes handle segment 78 and abristle substrate segment extending over region 72. Bristles 25 protrudeupward from the smoothly curved concave central region 74 of theelongated, rectangular shape of bristle substrate segment 72. In FIG. 4,concave central region 74 and bristles 25 create a concave plurality ofbristle ends at region 76. In FIG. 7, bristles 25 are of predeterminedvarying lengths 1 such that bristles at concave central region 74 arelonger than bristles at bristle substrate end regions 18, 20. Similar tothe central bristles in FIG. 6, the bristles of brush 12 in FIG. 7 atconcave central region 74 penetrate further into the subject's hair,permitting a hair dresser to create hair styles with more volume. Inboth FIGS. 4 and 7, bristles 25 are angularly disposed on the bristlesubstrate. The angular offset of bristles 25 in linear rows is shown inFIGS. 5 and 8.

[0036] In FIG. 9, each bristle 28 is individually disposed on thebristle substrate surface 26 such that the terminal ends or outerperiphery of all the bristle ends 91 define a predetermined arcuatesegment of a cylinder. Individual bristles, rather than bundles ofbristles, may be utilized in connection with both the cylindrical coreembodiment (FIG. 3) and the rectangular core embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 7).

[0037] The brush may be made of wood, plastic, aluminum or othermaterial. Any combination of those elements can be utilized in thebrush. The brush can be manufactured with different lengths and indifferent colors.

[0038] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications andchanges within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair brush for a person's head or scalp, comprising: an elongated member element having a handle segment and a bristle substrate segment on a common axial centerline; said bristle substrate defining a cylindrical core segment with a smoothly curved concave central region and radially larger end regions; a plurality of head hair bristles of various lengths long enough to brush head hair on said person's scalp, said bristles attached over said bristle substrate; said bristles having bristle ends extending out from said bristle substrate, and said bristle ends defining one of a cylindrical shape and an arcuate segment of a cylindrical shape.
 2. A brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of bristles are segregated into groups of small bundles and are disposed over a peripheral surface of said bristle substrate in a series of axially aligned and radially distributed linear bristle rows, each row consisting of a sub-plurality of bristle bundles, each bristle bundle in a respective linear row spaced axially apart along said bristle substrate.
 3. A brush as claimed in claim 2 wherein said handle segment is generally cylindrically shaped.
 4. A brush as claimed in claim 3 wherein said handle segment defines a continuously curved convex region having radially smaller handle end regions.
 5. A brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of bristles are individually disposed over a peripheral surface of said bristle substrate in a series of axially aligned and radially distributed linear bristle rows, each said linear row spaced axially apart along said bristle substrate.
 6. A hair brush, comprising: an elongated member element having a handle segment and a bristle substrate segment on a common axial centerline; said bristle substrate defining an elongated, rectangular core segment with an upper surface; said upper surface having a smoothly curved concave central region and dimensionally larger end regions; a plurality of bristles of various lengths attached over said upper surface of said bristle substrate; said bristles having bristle ends extending out from said bristle substrate, and said bristle ends defining one of an arcuate segment of a cylindrical shape and a planar shape.
 7. A brush as claimed in 6 wherein said plurality of bristles are segregated into groups of small bundles and are disposed over said upper surface of said bristle substrate in a series of axially aligned and laterally spaced apart linear bristle rows, each row consisting of a sub-plurality of bristle bundles, each bristle bundle in a respective linear row spaced axially apart along said bristle substrate.
 8. A brush as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plurality of bristles are individually disposed over said upper surface of said bristle substrate in a series of axially aligned and laterally spaced apart linear bristle rows, each said linear row spaced axially apart along said bristle substrate.
 9. A head hair brush for a person's head or scalp comprising an elongated member element having a handle segment and a bristle substrate segment on a common axial centerline, said bristle substrate defining an hourglass shape along said common axial centerline and having a central region with a smaller radial dimension and progressively radially larger end regions, said bristle substrate carrying a plurality of head hair brush bristles, said head hair brush bristles segregated into groups of small bundles which are axially aligned, radially distributed disposed over said bristle substrate, each bristle bundle extending substantially radially with respect to said axial centerline and forming an hourglass shaped hairbrush bristle system for said hair on said person's head or scalp. 